SpaceX bill signed into law

Gov. Rick Perry on Friday signed into law a proposal to temporarily close a beach on the southern tip of Texas during rocket launches, a move that allows the state to remain competitive for a SpaceX launch site.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

House Bill 2623 gives state officials permission to close the public Boca Chica Beach, near Brownsville, for up to 12 rocket launches a year. The proposal prohibits beach closures during the Memorial Day and Labor Day holiday weekends without approval of the general land office, the legislation states. It passed the Texas House in April, and was approved by senators on May 9.

“Even as our country shifts towards a greater reliance on private space exploration, Gov. Perry believes that Texas will continue to be the home for the space industry, and this bill ensures that we remain on right path to solidifying that reality,” read a statement from Perry’s spokesman, Josh Havens.

Founded in 2002, SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft; the company’s ultimate goal is “enabling people to live on other planets,” its website states. A privately-owned company, SpaceX has more than 3,000 employees in California, Texas, Florida and Washington, D.C.